Analysis of interactions of nitric oxide and polyamine under cadmium stress in wheat

Wheat cultivars chosen for their cadmium (Cd) tolerance (Sonmez-2001) and sensitivity (Quality) were grown in Hoagland solution for 20 days and then they were treated with 100 mu M 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylylimidazoline-1-oxyl (cPTIO), a nitric oxide (NO) scavenger, or with 100 mu M sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO donor, with and without 9 mM Cd. NO, free polyamines, and Cd levels were analysed by using leaf and root samples taken 24 and 72 h after treatment. There was a significant increase in NO level in the Cd+ SNP treatment in cv. Quality cultivars at 24 and 72 h. The NO level recorded in cv. Quality was higher in the Cd and Cd+ SNP treatments at 24 h and in the SNP and Cd+ SNP treatments at 72 h compared to cv. Sonmez-2001. Spermidine (Spd) had the highest amount of amine. In almost all treatments, the sensitive cultivar Quality included higher contents of Spd, putrescine, and spermine compared to cv. Sonmez-2001. Quality presented higher levels of Cd accumulation in root and leaf tissues in all treatments compared to Sonmez-2001.